US3318404A - Air cushion center of pressure displacing means for ground effect vehicles - Google Patents

Air cushion center of pressure displacing means for ground effect vehicles Download PDF

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Publication number
US3318404A
US3318404A US451373A US45137365A US3318404A US 3318404 A US3318404 A US 3318404A US 451373 A US451373 A US 451373A US 45137365 A US45137365 A US 45137365A US 3318404 A US3318404 A US 3318404A
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United States
Prior art keywords
cushion
vehicle
vehicle body
wall member
centre
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Expired - Lifetime
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US451373A
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English (en)
Inventor
Hopkins Leslie Arthur
Tripp Alan Ritson
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Hovercraft Development Ltd
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Hovercraft Development Ltd
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60V—AIR-CUSHION VEHICLES
    • B60V1/00—Air-cushion
    • B60V1/16—Flexible skirts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60V—AIR-CUSHION VEHICLES
    • B60V1/00—Air-cushion
    • B60V1/04—Air-cushion wherein the cushion is contained at least in part by walls
    • B60V1/043—Air-cushion wherein the cushion is contained at least in part by walls the walls being flexible

Definitions

  • This invention relates to gas-cushion vehicles that is to say vehicles for travelling over a surface and which, in operation, are supported above that surface by at least one cushion of pressurised gas contained beneath the vehicle body, the cushion space being bounded, at least in part, by a flexible wall member extending downwardly from the vehicle body.
  • a vehicle for travelling over a surface and which, in operation, is supported above that surface by at least one cushion of pressurised gas contained beneath the vehicle body, the cushion space being bounded, at least in part, by a flexible wall member extending downwardly from the vehicle body, has a wall member comprising an inflatable membrane having a cross-section, viewed in a direction normal to the periphery of the cushion, which when inflated, curves outwardly from the vehicle body and thereafter downwardly and inwardly, towards the cushion, means for inflating the membrane, and means for varying the profile of said cross-section so as to displace, in a substantially horizontal direction, the centre of pressure of the cushion relative to the vertical axis passing through the centre of gravity of the vehicle.
  • the invention provides an arrangement capable of controlling roll and pitch movements in a vehicle.
  • FIGURE 1 is a side view of a vehicle according to the first embodiment
  • FIGURE 2 is a section, to an enlarged scale, on the lines II II of FIGURE 1,
  • FIGURE 3 is a fragmental section of the second embodiment
  • FIGURE 4 illustrates a modification of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 3
  • FIGURE 5 is a fragmental section of the third embodiment.
  • a vehicle 1 travelling over a surface 2 and supported above the surface 2 by a cushion 3 of pressurised air contained beneath the vehicle 1 has the side parts of the cushion periphery contained by a pair of parallel-disposed flexible wall members 4 extending downwardly from the vehicle body.
  • the wall members 4 are of the form described and illustrated in the above-mentioned co-pending application Ser. No.
  • Each membrane 5 is inflated by air supplied by duct means 8 and means including link members 9a, 9b are provided for displacing, in a horizontal direction, each of the second edges 7 so as to 3,318,404 Patented May 9, 1967 displace in a substantially horizontal direction, and by varying the profile of the membrane cross-section, the centres of gravity of the membrane cross-sections relative to the vehicle 1. This in turn displaces, also in a substantially horizontal direction, the centre of pressure of the cushion 3 relative to the vertical axis 10 passing through the centre of gravity of the vehicle 1.
  • the vehicle 1 is propelled over the surface 2 by an air-screw propeller unit 11. Atmospheric air is drawn through intakes 12 by compressors 13 carried by the vehicle 1, and, after pressurisation, is discharged through the ducts 8.
  • the vehicle 1 is of the so-called plenum chamber type wherein air surplus to that required to form the cushion 3 escapes through small clearances between the lower surfaces of the membranes 5 and the surface 2 as indicated by the arrows 21.
  • the interiors of the membranes 5 are open to the cushion 3 so that air from the cushion keeps the membranes inflated in order that they each assume the profile described above.
  • the profiles of the membranes 5 have a pressure distribution which tends to keep the membranes 5 clear of the surface 2 at all times the cushion 3 is in existence, even when their centres of gravity are displaced in the manner described. Should the clearance between a membrane 5 and the surface 2 tend to decrease, the membrane 5 deflects upwards to maintain the clearance.
  • the inner edges 7 of the membranes 5 are tied together by tie means comprising tie cords 14 and the link member 9a.
  • the link member 9a is constrained to substantially horizontal reciprocal movement by supports 15 attachedto the underside of the .vehicle body.
  • the link member 912 is vertically disposed and is pivotally mounted on a support 16 within the duct 8 so that its lower end is pivotally connected to the link member 9a at a connection 17 intermediate the length of the link member 9a.
  • a rod 18 connects the upper end of the link member 9b with an actuating unit 19' under the control, through electrical signal lines 20, of the pilot of the vehicle 1.
  • the arrangement is such that if the pilot causes a movement of the rod 18 to, for example, the left (as viewed in FIGURE 2) this brings about a corresponding movement to the right of the link member 9a. Movement to the right of the link member 9a causes simultaneous displacement to the right of the edges 7 of both membranes 5 so that their centres of gravity are moved to the right also. Hence the centre of pressure of the cushion 3, hitherto coinciding with the axis '10 (i.e., the centre of gravity of the vehicle 1) is moved correspondingly to the right of the axis 10. Conversely, movement of the rod 18 to the right brings about a movement, to the left, of the centre of pressure of the cushion 3.
  • the centre of pressure of the cushion 3 can be moved to the left to restore the vehicle 1 to its original position.
  • known devices such as those shown in FIG. 8 of Patent No. 3,181,636, the centre of pressure of the cushion 3 can, of course, be moved automatically, to restore the vehicle, instead of relying on the reaction of the vehicle pilot.
  • Membranes similar to the membranes 5 and forming fore and aft parts of the flexible wall members 4 can be displaced in the same manner as described above so as to control pitch of the vehicle 1.
  • displacement of the membranes 5 has resulted without change of area of the cushion.
  • certain conditions for example, to control heave
  • a vehicle 25 (similar to the vehicle 1 of FIGURES 1 and 2) travelling vover a surface 26 and supported above the surface ⁇ 2 6--by a cushion 27 of pressurised air contained beneath the vehicle 25 has the side parts of the cushion periphery contained in part by downwardly extending flexible wall members 28.
  • the wall members 28 are each in the form of inflatable membranes 29 having a cross-section, viewed in a direction normal to the periphery of the cushion 27, which, when inflated, extend in a curve from a first (anchored) edge 30 initially in a direction outwardly from the cushion 27, thereafter extending downwardly, then inwardly and then upwardly to terminate at a second edge 31 so as to present on its lower surface a convex face presented towardsthe surface 26.
  • Duct means 32 are provided for inflating each membrane 29 (in a manner similar to that described in connection with the vehicle 1 of FIGURES 1 and 2) and -a roller 33 is provided for varying the profiles of the membranes 29 by winding up or by paying out each of the second edges 31 relative to the vehicle 25Iso as to vary the positions of their centres of gravity of cross-section and thus vary the effective boundary of the cushion 27.
  • the effective boundary is chiefly that part of the cushion 27 in contact with the outer surfaces of the membranes 29).
  • the cushion 27 is contained by the combination of the flexible wall members 28 and curtains 35 of moving air issuing from longitudinal ports 36 formed in the bottoms of the membranes 29. Air discharged from the ducts 32 thus not only inflates the membranes 29 but also provides the curtains 35.
  • the cushion 27 is first established by air issuing from the ports 36 and is thereafter contained in part by the air which is then deflected round and out by cushion pressure to form the curtains 35and in part by the wallmembcrs 28.
  • edges 30 are attached to a roller mounted on the vehicle body, the roller'being rotatable by an electric motor, in the same way as the rollers 33.
  • one or both of the rollers are replaced by a flexible beam disposed lengthwise along the same axis as that at present occupied by the roller(s) 33, the beam 7 being held at its ends and deflected (e.g., by a hydraulic ram attached to the vehicle body) about a point intermediate its length so as to obtain required displacement,
  • the wall members 44 are each in the form of inflatable membranes 45 having a cross-section, viewed in a direction normal to the periphery of the cushion 43, which when inflated, extends in a curve from a first (anchored) edge 46 initially in a direction outwardly from the cushion 43, thereafter extending downwardly, then inwardly and then upwardly, to terminate at a second edge 47 so as to present on its lower surface a convex face presented towards the surface 42.
  • Duct means 48 are provided for inflating each membrane 45.
  • the cushion 43 is contained by the com bination of the flexible wal-l members 44 and curtains 53 of moving air issuing from longitudinal ports 54 formed in the bottoms of the membranes 45
  • the edges 46, 47 of each membrane 45 are anchored to the lower part of the vehicle body and the centre of gravity of the membrane is displaced relative to the Vehicle by means of a cord 49 attached to the inner surface of each membrane 45 and which is led over a pulley 50through a slot 51 in the bottom of the vehicle to be attached to another pulley driven by a reversible electrie motor under the control, through electrical signal lines 56, automatically or by the pilot of the vehicle.
  • the cord 49 is pulled in or payed out so that thisvariation is achieved by local distortion of the profile of the membrane.
  • Variation in position of the centre of gravity varies the effective boundary of the cushion 43 (which boundary is chiefly that part of the cushion 43 in eontact with the outer surface of a membrane 45) which in turn dis places, in a substantially horizontal direction, the centre of pressure of the cushion 43 relative to the vertical axis 52 passing through the centre of gravity of the vehicle 41;
  • a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lastnamed means include tie means attached to the part of the wall member which curves inwardly towards the cushion, and means for varying the effective length of said tie means.
  • a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lastnamed means include roller means attached to at least one part of the wall member, said roller means being mounted on the vehicle body and rotatable about an axis disposed substantially parallel to said one side of the cushion periphery.
  • a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 including a further wall member, the two wall members being disposed along opposite sides of the cushion periphery, and means for varying the profiles of both wall members simultaneously.
  • a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 including a plurality of flexible extensions connected to the downwardly and inwardly curved part of said wall member, said extensions having cushion-bounding portions extending downwardly and inwardly towards the cushion for containing at least part of the cushion.
  • a vehicle as claimed in claim 5 including ports in the bottom part of said wall member adjacent and inboard of the upper ends of said extensions through which air issues from within said wall member and flows downwardly along the cushion-bounding portions of said extensions to form cushion-containing curtains below said extensions.
  • said lastmentioned means include tie means attached to the inner surface of the part of said wall member which curves inwardly towards the cushion, and means carried by the vehicle body for varying the effective length of said tie means.
  • said lastmentioned means include a tie cord attached at one end to the inner surface of the part of said wall member which curves inwardly towards the cushion, a pulley carried by the vehicle body to which the other end of said cord is attached, and means for rotating said pulley in opposite directions to pull in and pay out said tie cord so as to vary the effective length thereof.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Air Bags (AREA)
  • Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
  • Seats For Vehicles (AREA)
US451373A 1964-04-29 1965-04-28 Air cushion center of pressure displacing means for ground effect vehicles Expired - Lifetime US3318404A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB17826/64A GB1110797A (en) 1964-04-29 1964-04-29 Improvements relating to gas-cushion vehicles

Publications (1)

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US3318404A true US3318404A (en) 1967-05-09

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US451373A Expired - Lifetime US3318404A (en) 1964-04-29 1965-04-28 Air cushion center of pressure displacing means for ground effect vehicles

Country Status (7)

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US (1) US3318404A (fr)
DE (1) DE1285330B (fr)
DK (1) DK118328B (fr)
FR (1) FR1435332A (fr)
GB (1) GB1110797A (fr)
NL (1) NL6505567A (fr)
SE (1) SE309363B (fr)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3397753A (en) * 1965-02-24 1968-08-20 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Gas-cushion vehicles with flexible skirts
US3429395A (en) * 1966-02-03 1969-02-25 Melville W Beardsley Air-cushion vehicle with flexible skirt
DE1756498B1 (de) * 1967-06-06 1970-07-02 British Hovercraft Corp Ltd Flexible Schuerzenanordnung fuer Gaskissenfahrzeuge
US3621931A (en) * 1968-03-26 1971-11-23 Vosper Ltd Gas-cushion vehicles
US3777842A (en) * 1972-04-06 1973-12-11 H Laufman Aircar
US3805913A (en) * 1971-08-05 1974-04-23 A Jackes Air-cushion vehicle edge skirt arrangement
US3977491A (en) * 1972-10-23 1976-08-31 Hovermarine Transport Limited Gas-cushion vehicles
US3987865A (en) * 1975-03-19 1976-10-26 The B. F. Goodrich Company Gas-cushion vehicle skirt
USRE30694E (en) * 1964-08-28 1981-08-04 Westland Aircraft Limited Flexible skirt components for air cushion vehicles
US4363372A (en) * 1980-05-20 1982-12-14 Vosper Hovermarine Limited Gas-cushion vehicles

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN109733375A (zh) * 2019-01-11 2019-05-10 哈尔滨工程大学 一种气垫船的体积可变围裙结构

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB824834A (en) * 1956-10-04 1959-12-09 Gen Electric Co Ltd Improvements in or relating to finger plates for telephone dials
US3096728A (en) * 1961-05-01 1963-07-09 Gen Motors Corp High speed land transportation system and vehicle therefor
US3139947A (en) * 1961-04-24 1964-07-07 Nat Res Associates Inc Air cushion vehicle for travelling over irregular terrain
FR1377636A (fr) * 1962-10-18 1964-11-06 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Perfectionnement aux véhicules pour déplacement au-dessus d'une surface
US3209847A (en) * 1962-08-01 1965-10-05 Fred Starobin A Spray suppressor for air cushion vehicles
US3251430A (en) * 1962-03-01 1966-05-17 Gen Motors Corp Unitary air cushion support and drive unit for vehicles

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB968191A (en) * 1959-09-25 1964-08-26 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Vehicle for travelling over water
GB938664A (en) * 1960-12-21 1963-10-02 Mcconnel F W Ltd Improvements in or relating to vehicles for use over heavy or water logged ground
FR1339687A (fr) * 1962-09-06 1963-10-11 Vickers Armstrongs Ltd Véhicule supporté par un matelas d'air
FR1344575A (fr) * 1962-11-20 1963-11-29 Westland Aircraft Ltd éléments rétractables pour véhicules, notamment pour véhicules à effet de sol

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB824834A (en) * 1956-10-04 1959-12-09 Gen Electric Co Ltd Improvements in or relating to finger plates for telephone dials
US3139947A (en) * 1961-04-24 1964-07-07 Nat Res Associates Inc Air cushion vehicle for travelling over irregular terrain
US3096728A (en) * 1961-05-01 1963-07-09 Gen Motors Corp High speed land transportation system and vehicle therefor
US3251430A (en) * 1962-03-01 1966-05-17 Gen Motors Corp Unitary air cushion support and drive unit for vehicles
US3209847A (en) * 1962-08-01 1965-10-05 Fred Starobin A Spray suppressor for air cushion vehicles
FR1377636A (fr) * 1962-10-18 1964-11-06 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Perfectionnement aux véhicules pour déplacement au-dessus d'une surface

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USRE30694E (en) * 1964-08-28 1981-08-04 Westland Aircraft Limited Flexible skirt components for air cushion vehicles
US3397753A (en) * 1965-02-24 1968-08-20 Hovercraft Dev Ltd Gas-cushion vehicles with flexible skirts
US3429395A (en) * 1966-02-03 1969-02-25 Melville W Beardsley Air-cushion vehicle with flexible skirt
DE1756498B1 (de) * 1967-06-06 1970-07-02 British Hovercraft Corp Ltd Flexible Schuerzenanordnung fuer Gaskissenfahrzeuge
US3621931A (en) * 1968-03-26 1971-11-23 Vosper Ltd Gas-cushion vehicles
US3805913A (en) * 1971-08-05 1974-04-23 A Jackes Air-cushion vehicle edge skirt arrangement
US3777842A (en) * 1972-04-06 1973-12-11 H Laufman Aircar
US3977491A (en) * 1972-10-23 1976-08-31 Hovermarine Transport Limited Gas-cushion vehicles
US3987865A (en) * 1975-03-19 1976-10-26 The B. F. Goodrich Company Gas-cushion vehicle skirt
US4363372A (en) * 1980-05-20 1982-12-14 Vosper Hovermarine Limited Gas-cushion vehicles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SE309363B (fr) 1969-03-17
FR1435332A (fr) 1966-04-15
DE1285330B (de) 1968-12-12
NL6505567A (fr) 1965-11-01
GB1110797A (en) 1968-04-24
DK118328B (da) 1970-08-03

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